There is always a curiosity why Thapa & few other titles are used both by Magars & Chhetris, two completely different community. Chettris belong to Khas community.
In general, most of the indigenous group in our country use the title which represent their community. for example Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa and so on. Only Magars & in fact Newars don't use their respective community name in their title. Only in recent time Magars has started using Magar as their title.
I have mentioned Newar here because they too have complex culture like ours. The study of Newar Community might help us in understanding the changes happened in the past and effect of Khas community on Indigenous groups. This also shows that how Magars & Newars are more influenced by Khas as compared to other indigenous group.
The impact of Khas culture on Magar also confirms that we are the first indigenous group (at least from Mongoloid stock) came in contact with Khas culture. Geographical wise as compared to other indegenous group Magars are settled more towards west as compared to other Mongoloid indegenous group. But still few questions still persist like after 200 years rule of Shah dynasty how still other indegous group managed to keep their cultures unchanged like most of the other Mongoloid indegenous group won't practice the Hindu religion at all. They may have Hindu names but their culture their lifestyle is completely different from Khas community.
One more question that comes in my mind while writing this article is that if Geography is the criteria then Kham Magars are situated more towards west as compared to Kali Gandaki region, then why Magars from Kali gandaki region are more influenced by Khas as compared to Kham Magar region. May be my answer is linked with Newar factor. Actually, what I want to say is that place that were more urbanized or say centres of the area were more influenced by Khas as compared to others. Because Kali Gandaki region was also one of the politically & commercially important region at that time.
Kali Gandaki - Rapti region is the where Khas came in contact with the first Mongoliod community that us. But also as historian says lot of Bahuns has been migrated to Nepal from this region. Since ancient times this was not only the main trade route between India & Tibet but also this region is quiet near to the religious Hindu centres like Benaras, Ayodhya etc.
There is evident that in twelth century Kali Gandaki - Rapti region was divided into Bara Magarat & Athar Magarat. (Ref: http://www.socialinclusion.org.np/new/files/Tuk%20Bahadur%20Thapa%20Magar_1365500023dWhd.pdf). This proves that Khas came in contact with Magars after twelth century or Bahuns from Ganges plain started Migrated towards this region in this period may be because of Muslim invasion in Ganges plain.
This encounter of Khas from west and Bahuns from south is one of the important milestone in our history. (Again, Lets see at present how the rise of Madheshis (from south) will impact the future of Nepal).
So finally, you can guess what I could have happened next. And also mentioned in many texts. Elite Magars or Magar rulers might have ugraded themsleves to Chettris. As I have also mentioned in my earlier article that big culture kills small ones. Everyone wants to be part of superior race than others. The physical feature also explain the fact. The chettris with common titles tends to have a Mongoloid touch in their feature as compared to title which is pure found in Chhetris.
In general, most of the indigenous group in our country use the title which represent their community. for example Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa and so on. Only Magars & in fact Newars don't use their respective community name in their title. Only in recent time Magars has started using Magar as their title.
I have mentioned Newar here because they too have complex culture like ours. The study of Newar Community might help us in understanding the changes happened in the past and effect of Khas community on Indigenous groups. This also shows that how Magars & Newars are more influenced by Khas as compared to other indigenous group.
The impact of Khas culture on Magar also confirms that we are the first indigenous group (at least from Mongoloid stock) came in contact with Khas culture. Geographical wise as compared to other indegenous group Magars are settled more towards west as compared to other Mongoloid indegenous group. But still few questions still persist like after 200 years rule of Shah dynasty how still other indegous group managed to keep their cultures unchanged like most of the other Mongoloid indegenous group won't practice the Hindu religion at all. They may have Hindu names but their culture their lifestyle is completely different from Khas community.
One more question that comes in my mind while writing this article is that if Geography is the criteria then Kham Magars are situated more towards west as compared to Kali Gandaki region, then why Magars from Kali gandaki region are more influenced by Khas as compared to Kham Magar region. May be my answer is linked with Newar factor. Actually, what I want to say is that place that were more urbanized or say centres of the area were more influenced by Khas as compared to others. Because Kali Gandaki region was also one of the politically & commercially important region at that time.
Kali Gandaki - Rapti region is the where Khas came in contact with the first Mongoliod community that us. But also as historian says lot of Bahuns has been migrated to Nepal from this region. Since ancient times this was not only the main trade route between India & Tibet but also this region is quiet near to the religious Hindu centres like Benaras, Ayodhya etc.
There is evident that in twelth century Kali Gandaki - Rapti region was divided into Bara Magarat & Athar Magarat. (Ref: http://www.socialinclusion.org.np/new/files/Tuk%20Bahadur%20Thapa%20Magar_1365500023dWhd.pdf). This proves that Khas came in contact with Magars after twelth century or Bahuns from Ganges plain started Migrated towards this region in this period may be because of Muslim invasion in Ganges plain.
This encounter of Khas from west and Bahuns from south is one of the important milestone in our history. (Again, Lets see at present how the rise of Madheshis (from south) will impact the future of Nepal).
So finally, you can guess what I could have happened next. And also mentioned in many texts. Elite Magars or Magar rulers might have ugraded themsleves to Chettris. As I have also mentioned in my earlier article that big culture kills small ones. Everyone wants to be part of superior race than others. The physical feature also explain the fact. The chettris with common titles tends to have a Mongoloid touch in their feature as compared to title which is pure found in Chhetris.
